Vashon Live Broadcasts Entertainment During Quarantine
Chick Green, Reporter

Quarantine has impacted everyone differently, whether that’s been experiencing extreme motivation, unproductive restlessness and anxiety, or just plain old boredom. One group has attempted to ease island residents during this unpredictable time by virtually bringing entertainment to the community.

The group, Vashon Live, has been broadcasting music, art, poem and spoken word performances, and community information over Facebook since the state enacted lockdown procedures.

The sessions are broadcasted from either a campfire outside of the home of Simon Clark, the director, or the Black Cat Cabaret of Snapdragon. The organizers are extremely cautious and are following recommended social distancing practices.

“We run a skeleton crew with sound and video being run from an outside hub,” Sarah Howard, Vashon Live’s booking agent and line producer, said. “We have two broadcasting backdrops inside at opposite ends of the room and cameras set in the middle. This way we can videotape our emcee doing announcements on one end of the building and the artist on the other.”

Other social distancing precautions have also been taken.

“Cameras and microphones are set up ahead of time,” Howard said. “Sound check and adjustments can be made from our outside hub. Sanitization is done in between each step and the set is equipped with gloves, sanitizer, bleach water and everyone wears masks. Once the emcee has announced the act they leave the building. The 6+ foot rule is in effect at all times.”

Even though the circumstances are difficult, the Vashon Live team remains enthusiastic about helping artists and musicians spread their talent to an isolated Vashon with help from the Island Community.

“We’ve had a lot of support,” Howard said. “Vashon events was the first organization to come forward and offer help. They’ve been very helpful making flyers and doing a lot of promo. The Lodges reached out to offer us a space. Snapdragon has offered up their business to let us film four nights a week there which is huge.”